Garment-stay.



J. M WELSH, DECD. M. E. K. WELSH. ADMINISTRATRIX GARMENT STAY.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 14, I914.

Patented Jan. 30,

WITNESSES UIED T '5 rarer onto.

JAMES M. WELSH, DECEASED, LATE OF MEADVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA, BY MARY ETTA K. WELSH, ADMIN ISTRATBIX,.OF MEADVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE SPIRELLA COMPANY, OF MEADVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENN- SYLVANIA.

GARMENT-STAY.

Application filed July 14, 1914.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that JAMES M. l/VELSH, late a resident of Meadville, in the county of Crawford and State of Pennsylvania, was the inventor of a new and useful Improvement in Garment-Stays, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to garment stays, such as corset stays and the like.

The object of the invention is to provide a garment stay which may be readily manufactured, which is strong and durable, which is flexible and resilient in the flatwise direction and may be twisted around its longitudinal axis in either direction so that it will conform readily to the contour of the body, and which is stiff and resists fiexure in the edgewise direction, so that it is particularly adapted for uses wherein edgewise fiexure is undesirable, such as for front clasps for corsets or the like.

The invention comprises the stay hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings Figure 1 represents a face view of one form of stay embodying the invention; Fig. 2 is an edge view thereof and Figs. 3 and e are similar views of another stay embodying the invention.

The stay shown in the drawings is formed of a flat band or ribbon l which may be made of any suitable material such as steel, which is strong, flexible and resilient. Said band is folded at intervals upon itself on diagonal lines of fold, indicated at 2 in Fig. 1 to form a plurality of superimposed plies, the band being bent back and forth in zig-zag form from edge to edge of the stay. The crossing portions 3 of the band are preferably made of the same length so that in the finished stay the side edges produced by the folds 2- are straight.

In manufacturing the stay the band is folded upon itself back and forth first in one div recticn and then in the other, each fold being superimposed upon a portion of the preceding fold, all of the folds overlapping or being superimposed upon the same sides of the preceding folds. The folded portions 2 along the edges of the stay are usually at a Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J an. 30, 191?.

Serial No. 850,974.

slight angle to the general plane of the stay, as lndicated in Figs. 2 and l, so that the stay has a shingled appearance when viewed edgewise. The several foldededge portions may overlap each other along the edges of the stay, as indicated at 4 in Fig. 1, or the lines of fold may be chosen at such an angle that the several edge portions 2 are spaced apart longitudinally of the stay, leaving open spaces 5 therebetween, as indicated in Fig. 3.

This stay is flexible and quite resilient in the flatwise direction, that is, normal to its general plane, but is stiff and inflexible in the edgewise direction. Consequently it is well adapted for use as the front clasp 1nem ber of a corset and for this purpose may be provided with suitable eyelet or stud memhere, one of which is shown at 6. It may also be twisted in either direction around its axis and conforms readily to the contour of the body.

The stay may be readily manufactured, is cheap and very durable. As will be readily understood, it may be provided with any suitable rust resisting coating, such as by being plated with metal or covered with a suitable composition and may be inclosed in a fabric pocket upon the garment in the usual manner.

What I claim is:

1. A garment stay, comprising a flat strip folded at intervals upon itself in zigzag form back and forth from edge to edge of the stay, each fold overlying its preceding fold on the same side of the stay.

2. A garment stay, comprising a flat strip folded at intervals upon itself in zigzag form back and forth across the stay and on the same side thereof, with the folded portions forming substantially straight edges of the stay.

3. A garment stay, comprising a flat strip folded at intervals in zigzag form upon lines diagonal to the length of the strip, to form a succession of overlapping plies extending from edge to edge of the stay, each ply overlapping the preceding ply on the same side of the stay.

4. A garment stay, comprising a flat strip said James M. Welsh, deceased, have herefolded at intervals upon itself in zigzag unto set my hand. form on lines diagonal t0 the length of the V MARY ETTA K. WELSH. strip, with the folded portions forming the Administratfiw of James M. Welsh, de- 5 edges of the stay and slightly overlapping ceased.

each'other longitudinally thereof. Witnesses: V

In testimony whereof, 1, Mary Etta K. WM. S. SMITH, Welsh, administratrix of the estate of the T. F. CHARLTON.

copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents;

Washington, D. 0. 

